The headwaters of the Katherine form in the sandstone country of the Arnhem Land Plateau around 150km upstream of Katherine. The river drops from the escarpment through Katherine Gorge and flows downstream to around 60km west of Katherine where it meets the Flora River to become the Daly River. It then continues on for about another 350km before entering the Timor Sea at Anson Bay.

All this geography is interesting but it isn’t until we add saltwater crocodiles to the picture that we can see that it is important to understand where rivers go.

Saltwater crocodiles travel up and down rivers from place to place looking for food, mates and territory. They hatch from eggs laid in nests constructed by female crocs in reedy swamps relatively close to coastal areas. When they are hatchlings they usually stay close to the protection of the swamps and mangroves. As they grow they may swim hundreds of kilometres from their birthplace; out to sea, in and out of brackish coastal estuaries where our rivers meet the sea and many kilometres inland along freshwater rivers.

Saltwater crocs are in our waterways throughout the year but the ease with which crocs can travel around our waterways rises with the river levels in the wet season. Crocs travel overland but when the creeks and floodways fill it is easier for them to move to places that you may not expect to see them.

Salties are regularly caught by Parks and Wildlife Rangers in the Katherine River.  For much of the year, trapping programs and river monitoring manage the risk they pose to our community. It is important to remember that even if Rangers remove an animal from an area another will generally be travelling upstream to take its place.

If you see a saltwater crocodile in the river near Katherine you can report your sighting to the Parks and Wildlife Commission using the ‘report a croc’ link at www.becrocwise.nt.gov.au  or by contacting 0407 958 405 or (08) 8973 8888.

Remember to stay safe in waterways in the Katherine region. Always be crocwise!